Every year Beyond Fest presents the best dark genre filmmaking, screening big horror premieres, double features and themed selections of strange visionary cinema. It’s one of L.A.’s most anticipated annual events, and part of its appeal has always been the kitschy Old Hollywood landmark it’s called home- The Egyptian Theater. While the organizers can’t do it there this year due to pandemic theater restrictions, they’ve opted for an equally fun -and safe- gathering space: The Mission Tiki Drive-In, where its American Cinematheque events were held all Summer.

1BF2020Poster design credit Bianca ParkesThe decision not to go digital makes the event one of the first all-physical festivals in the Covid era, and the line-up sounds more than worthy of the drive out to Tiki’s home in Claremont.  “We covet the theatrical experience above all and following the overwhelming success of our drive-in program we never hesitated in keeping Beyond Fest a physical experience” said Beyond Fest co-founder, Christian Parkes explains in press materials for the event. “We specifically wanted to give COVID-19 a resilient middle finger and provide a safe, communal respite for filmmakers and film fans to celebrate the best genre cinema on the biggest screens possible.”

Highlights run the gamut from gothic horror to weirdo headtrips, and include: a David Lynch tribute triple bill with Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, and Mulholland Drive; a double-bill curated by director Jim Cummings with world premiere of his Werewolf Tale the Wolf of Snow Hollow shown with Joe Dante’s The Burbs; a premiere of the new Blumhouse Christopher Landon slasher Freaky with an episode of director’s Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. other premieres include Adam Egypt Mortimer’s Archenemy, Steven Kostanski’s Psycho Goreman and Bryan Bertino’s The Dark and the Wicked, Moorhead and Benson’s Synchronic, Justin Simien’s Bad Hair, Neil Marshall’s The Reckoning and Rose Glass’ Saint Maud (shown alongside Rob Reiner’s Misery).

American Cinematheque presents Beyond Fest, Fri.-Thur., Oct. 2-8, at the Mission Tiki Drive-in, 10798 Ramona Ave., Claremont. Tickets available at www.beyondfest.com.

Read last month’s cover story about the return of drive-in culture here.

 

 

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